Regional Spotlight – Africa November 2025
The November 2025 edition of GSA’s Region Spotlight: Africa highlights a telecom sector in transition. In recent years, Africa has seen moderate advancement in telecommunications technology. The proliferation of 4G LTE networks in Africa has transformed the digital landscape, enabling faster data speeds, enhanced connectivity and the widespread adoption of mobile broadband services.
Africa has not seen the levels of mobile network development as in other regions, but there will be significant growth levels as high-investment projects take effect. Moreover, the advent of 5G technology promises to usher in a new era of connectivity for the region, characterised by ultrafast speeds, low latency and greater security.
LTE adoption is widespread, with 173 operators in 57 countries having launched services. Meanwhile, LTE-Advanced deployment remains uneven, with only 53 operators in 31 countries. The 5G landscape in Africa is evolving, with 91 operators in 46 countries investing in the technology and 49 operators in 29 countries having launched 5G networks. Although 5G standalone adoption is limited, there is potential for growth as device ecosystems mature and operators consider 5G standalone for initial launches.
Fixed wireless access is also gaining traction, with services available in 47 countries and adoption exceeding 78%, driven by limited fibre infrastructure. However, spectrum auctions and switch-offs of 2G and 3G remain slow, reflecting economic constraints and widespread use of older devices.
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Regional Spotlight – Africa November 2025
